Mazda 3 v BMW 1

[cbcbd]

In the letters section of AutoWeek mag there were some props given to the 3 after an article on the BMW1 the week before.

From last week's AutoWeek magazine:

|Letters|
1 Series isn't enough
It's obvious why BMW isn't bringing the 1 Series here. We already have it. It's called the Mazda 3 five-door, with more horsepower, more torque, more room and equal handling. It is better looking and much cheaper, even with more standard features, than the 1 Series.
John Slegianes, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Although front-wheel drive, my Mazda 3 is an excellent driver, and the body design is so close to the 1 Series that it's almost scary. I've had mine for three months and I love it. It was less than $20,000 and very whell equipped.
John Harper, Naples, Fla.




Woo hoo, go John and John, spread the word!! We should get these guys in here.

[ZoomZoomH]

lol yeah i read that in Autoweek

figuring a 1 Series, if imported to US, will start around 26k.

question for everyone here: would you spend the 6k+ over a loaded 3 to get a 1 series??

[uclap5]

rwd, and status.

[Kain]

That only works in the entry-level luxury market, where people don't mind plunking down an extra $10k just so they can drive a Bimmer (most of them not even realizing they actually bought a very nice driver's car).

But in the economy car market, good luck. These buyers are far too cost conscious to spend that much more for an emblem.

[cbcbd]

That only works in the entry-level luxury market, where people don't mind plunking down an extra $10k just so they can drive a Bimmer (most of them not even realizing they actually bought a very nice driver's car).

But in the economy car market, good luck. These buyers are far too cost conscious to spend that much more for an emblem.Both statements completely true. Especially the first one. It's amazing how many people get the BMW just because of the name but don't realize that it's the driver's car of the luxury market. Kind of frustrating when you think about it, especially since roads here are littered with BMWs and most of them are probably just in it for the name.

Obviously we here appreciate the BMW, but we realize that the gains from getting a 3 series for that much more $ is not great when we've already got a pretty good package with our cars for this price.
I think most people on this board would probably keep driving Mazdas until they could afford an M3.


edit: haha, just noticed you drive an SE-R :D we're all in the same market, still




question for everyone here: would you spend the 6k+ over a loaded 3 to get a 1 series??I'd have to drive it, but probably not. I passed on many "better"/a little more expensive cars just because of the space I get in the 5

[+ friction]

If we're talking "investment" here (I know, a car is not an investment...), the Bimmer will depreciate in value much less. But still, I'd go w/the Mazda.

[wongpres]

BMW will bring the 1-series to N. America - just not the hatch version that will be released first over in Europe. BMW will also bring the 2-series (1-series coupe).

[Kain]

BMW will bring the 1-series to N. America - just not the hatch version that will be released first over in Europe. BMW will also bring the 2-series (1-series coupe).
Good luck to BMW on that one. Any rational, practical person can get much more car for the price of a 1 or 2-series. But then again, people buy SUVs in droves, so I guess rationality isn't a quality people have a lot of.

[ZoomZoomH]

but SUV buyers have the 'bigger is better' mentality, hence they are willing to pay out of wazoo for giant land yacht that cost very little to make

can the same thing be said about a 26k 'small' car???

[Da 6]

but SUV buyers have the 'bigger is better' mentality? You know how us americans are...D.C. is littered with them..If I see another H2.....(chair)

[TStar]

i've seen the 1 on the inside and the outside and i must say : i DO like it indeed... the body design is really something and the interior is very well done, too..and the entry price level of 19k € is alright for a bmw...

[PeteyBoy3K]

but SUV buyers have the 'bigger is better' mentality, hence they are willing to pay out of wazoo for giant land yacht that cost very little to make

can the same thing be said about a 26k 'small' car???

I dunno, there are a lot of cooper S's out there list price right around 26K.... then again, They are inscrutably super cute . not sure what the 1 series looks like

[ZoomZoomH]

I dunno, there are a lot of cooper S's out there list price right around 26K.... then again, They are inscrutably super cute . not sure what the 1 series looks like
which brings up a good question that BMW probably has considered: will bringing over the 1 series eat into the Mini market and end up having both cars suffer in sales?

[crossbow]

Rwd > Fwd

[goldwing2000]

Rwd > Fwd

Depends on what you're doing with it.

[Da 6]

Depends on what you're doing with it.due to weight and engine placement over front tires both sixes plow foreward but 6i is way more controlable. not shure about the 3's complaints cause havn't heard many complaints or anyone autoxing one. On a board full of autocrossers I'm pretty shure they would pick the rwd vehicle.

[TStar]

looks good to me....
http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/1er/14296_1024.jpg
http://www.bmwworld.com/pics/1er/14500_1024.jpg

[goldwing2000]

(blarf) Looks like crap to me.

No offense to anybody who likes it...

That weird body crease makes it looks like an old broken-down cow headed for the slaughterhouse.

[TStar]

what i dont like about this car is the typical bmw front bumper/grille..somehow ruins it.. but i do like the molded sides / doors....

[Da 6]

(blarf) Looks like crap to me.

No offense to anybody who likes it...

That weird body crease makes it looks like an old broken-down cow headed for the slaughterhouse.I didn't want to be the 1st to say anything....since I found out alot of people actuly like the honda element(wink) I see the resemblence...it looks like a 3 at the back windows...and it's a hatch. The stitching in the seats is what (officialy) turned me off.
(outie)

[crossbow]

Depends on what you're doing with it.
RWD is a drivers platform. FWD is a consumer platform designed to minimize accidents. 99% of Americans can't drive worth shit. When they enter a situation where they have to make emergency manuvers, then tend to overcompensate, and will easily spin out a RWD car, hitting multiple targets, instead of just plowing into a single one.

Traction is finite. It eventually runs out. In a FWD vehicle the front tires traction are primarily used for...

1) Turning
2) Acceleration
3) Braking

Each one of these actions eliminate available traction, and when traction runs out, the car starts to understeer, or plow, in the direction you were last pointed.

In a RWD the same front tires are used for...

1) Turning
2) Braking

Acceleration traction is now the responsibility of the rear tires. Additionally when you accelerate in any car, a weight shift occurs, putting the majority of the cars weight on the REAR wheels.

In a RWD car this is fantastic. The weight of the car is over the rear wheels, helping aid in traction.

In a FWD car, this sucks ass. Since the weight is over the rear wheels, there is much less weight over the front, which causes excessive wheel spin, wheel hop, and generally poor launches and performance.

So in summary...

FWD is a horrible platform for....

1) Accelerating, or any applications of power. To compensate for the weight shift, extremely sticky and WIDE front tires must be run. (See SRT-4 Forums). An LSD is also required for any application of over 200+ WHP to have any sort of useful traction off the line, or in a turn.

2) Throttling through a turn, powering out of an exit. The second the wheels start turning, you lose available traction, which is no longer available for acceleration. Trying to accelerate in a hard turn will result in complete wheel spin, making you wait until after the wheels are completely straightened out before accelerating.

Need an example? Turn extremely hard and give it some gas.

Can FWD be driven aggressively enough to be competitive? Of course. Is it the best platform for doing so? Absolutely not.

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[goldwing2000]

RWD is a drivers platform. FWD is a consumer platform designed to minimize accidents. 99% of Americans can't drive worth shit.

Which is exactly what I meant when I said "Depends on what you're doing with it."

If you're racing competitively or driving agressively, then yes, RWD is probably for you.

If you're buying a car as a grocery-getter (especially in areas with a lot of rain and/or snow) with occasional spirited driving, then FWD may be your better option.